Magnetic repulsion. The iron filings sprinkled between these two bar magnets reveal the shape of the repulsive magnetic field between them. The filings show the repulsion as field lines arcing away from the ends of the magnets. Bar magnets have a north and a south pole. Unlike poles attract each other, whereas like poles repel each other. The poles here are both marked north (N). The magnetised filings align in thin arcing lines due to the interactions between them, even though the magnetic field itself is continuous. For the field shape between attracting magnets, see image C0106375.